Brightness enhanced head lamp apparatus

ABSTRACT

A brightness enhanced head lamp includes a hyperboloid reflecting mirror disposed within a housing, a head lens member coupled to the housing to extend transaxially across a front portion of the hyperboloid reflecting mirror, and a primary light source disposed between the hyperboloid reflecting mirror and the head lens member. The head lamp further includes a secondary light source disposed between the head lens member and the front portion of the hyperboloid reflecting mirror for augmenting the light generated by the primary light source. In certain embodiments, the secondary light source is formed with a fluorescent material disposed at an inner surface of the head lens member. In certain other embodiments, an auxiliary lighting element is disposed adjacent the fluorescent material, such that the fluorescent material may be further illuminated to emit fluoresced light responsive thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device to enhance the brightness forhead lamp, and especially to a head lamp for a vehicle that includes inone embodiment a circular neon light tube installed about an innerperiphery of a hyperboloid reflecting mirror, and in another embodimentincludes such features as a layer of fluorescent material coated onto aninner surface of a lens illuminated by a proximately disposed additionalbulb.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, only small secondary lamps of a vehicle are actuated at duskor other conditions where lamp illumination is to serve primarily forindicating the presence of the vehicle. However, light emitted from asmall lamp is often not sufficiently strong to attract the attention ofothers to the light. As a consequence, otherwise avoidable accidentsoccur as people are not adequately alerted to approaching vehicles.Therefore, the alerting function of conventional small lamps is limited,as they are not sufficiently conspicuous to other drivers orpedestrians.

Therefore, there is a need for a novel device which can improve upon theaforesaid defects of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide abrightness enhanced head lamp having an additional lighting elementwhich is preferably a neon lamp tube. A neo lamp tube of a predeterminedsize is installed between a hyperboloid reflecting mirror and a headlens of the head lamp. A primary bulb of the lamp is illuminated withthe neon lamp tube at the same time. Aided by the hyperboloid reflectingmirror, the lens is very brightly illuminated so that driving safety ispromoted.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide abrightness enhanced head lamp having an additional lighting elementwhich is preferably a neon lamp tube. A neon lamp tube of apredetermined size is installed between a hyperboloid reflecting mirrorand a head lens of the head lamp. A primary bulb of the lamp isilluminated with the neon lamp tube at the same time. Aided by thehyperboloid reflecting mirror, the lens is very brightly illuminated sothat driving safety is promoted.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a brightnessenhanced head lamp, wherein an inner periphery of the surface of thelens is coated in another embodiment with a layer of light fluorescingmaterial. As the bulb is illuminated, focusing of the mirror-reflectedlight is enhanced. Therefore, safe driving conditions are promoted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be morereadily understood from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the appended drawings.

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of the mounting structure for the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a small lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a sectional view in one embodiment of a small lamp of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the configuration in a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another configuration in a thirdembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, a brightness enhanced head lamp foruse in a vehicle is illustrated. The brightness enhanced head lamp maybe suitably received in various lamp seats. In general, the seat 1 isformed by a housing 13 with a hyperboloid reflecting mirror 11. Aprimary bulb 12 is disposed at the center portion thereof; and, a headlens 2 is installed across an outer opening of the housing 13.Therefore, when the bulb 12 is illuminated, the light impinging upon thehyperboloid reflecting mirror 11 will be focused through the head lens 2so as to serve an alerting function by illumination. In accordance withone aspect of the present invention, a light fluorescing element orcoating 5 may be disposed at an inner periphery of the head lens 2″, asshown in FIG. 1C.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a neon tube3 corresponding in size to the edge of the lamp frame is installedbetween the hyperboloid reflecting mirror and the head lens 2 of theseat 1, as illustrated in FIG. 2. When the bulb 12 and neon lamp tube 3are illuminated at the same time, the hyperboloid reflecting surface ofthe whole mirror 11 is very brightly illuminated for reflecting throughthe head lens so as to be highly conspicuous to drivers of otheroncoming vehicles, as well as to pedestrians nearby. Therefore, thelikelihood of an accident is reduced.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the seat 1 and head lens 2′ maycontain a fluorescent material 4. An auxiliary light source 12′ isplaced between the hyperboloid reflecting mirror 11 and the head lens2′. The fluorescent material 4 fluoresces upon absorbing light generatedby the head lamp's light sources. When the two bulbs 12 and 12′ areilluminated, the fluorescent material 4 in the head lens 2′ will enhancethe overall light intensity so that the whole head lens surface willbrighten. Drivers of oncoming cars or motorcycles and pedestrians arethus more likely to take notice of the given vehicle. Thereby alerted,the drivers and pedestrians may take care to avoid collision, so thatsafety is enhanced.

In summary, no matter what configuration described above is employed,the objects of alerting and heightening safe driving conditions areachieved. Therefore, the present invention promotes traffic safety, andreduces the likelihood of harm due to carelessness or inattention.

The present invention is thus described, but it will be obvious that thesame may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regardedas a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, andall such variations or modifications as would be obvious to one skilledin the art are intended to be included within the scope of the presentinvention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A brightness enhanced head lamp comprising: (a) ahyperboloid reflecting mirror disposed within a housing; (b) a head lensmember coupled to said housing, said head lens member extendingtransaxially across a front portion of said hyperboloid reflectingmirror; (c) a primary light source disposed between said hyperboloidreflecting mirror and said head lens member; and, (d) a secondary lightsource disposed between said head lens member and said front portion ofsaid hyperboloid reflecting mirror in optical communication with saidprimary light source for augmenting the light generated by said headlamp.
 2. The brightness enhanced head lamp as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid secondary light source includes a fluorescent material coating aninner surface of said head lens member for emitting fluoresced lightresponsive to illumination of said primary light source.
 3. Thebrightness enhanced head lamp as recited in claim 2 wherein saidsecondary light source further includes an auxiliary bulb disposedadjacent said fluorescent material coating for the illumination thereof.4. The brightness enhanced head lamp as recited in claim 2 wherein saidfluorescent material coating is formed to extend along at least aportion of an inner circumferential periphery of said head lens member.5. A brightness enhanced head lamp comprising: (a) a hyperboloidreflecting mirror disposed within a housing; (b) a head lens membercoupled to said housing, said head lens member extending transaxiallyacross a front portion of said hyperboloid reflecting mirror; (c) aprimary light source disposed between said hyperboloid reflecting mirrorand said head lens member; and, (d) a secondary light source disposedbetween said head lens member and said front portion of said hyperboloidreflecting mirror for augmenting the light generated by said head lamp,said secondary light source including an annular neon tube coaxiallydisposed about said front portion of said hyperboloid reflecting mirror.6. A brightness enhanced head lamp comprising: (a) a hyperboloidreflecting mirror disposed within a housing; (b) a head lens membercoupled to said housing, said head lens member extending transaxiallyacross a front portion of said hyperboloid reflecting mirror, said headlens member defining an inner surface opposing said front portion ofsaid hyperboloid reflecting mirror; (c) a primary light source disposedbetween said hyperboloid reflecting mirror and said head lens member;and, (d) an secondary light source in optical communication with saidprimary light source for augmenting the light generated by said headlamp, said secondary light source including a fluorescent materialdisposed on at least a portion said inner surface of said head lensmember, and an auxiliary lighting element disposed adjacent saidfluorescent material, between said head lens member and said hyperboloidreflecting mirror.